This is an extract from Paduturai (Reposing on the shore of Peace), a work that includes Tattuvaraya's teachings, praise of hisGuru Sorupananda, and many expressions of his own enlightened state. The translations are by Robert Butler, Dr. T.V. Venkata-subramanian and David Godman.

Paduturai - NenjiRku Amaivurai [Advice to the heart on being still)

1. Heart of mine! Hunger will be appeased even if one consumes unsalted, watery gruel. Thirst can be quenched by drinkingwater from wells, tanks, and rivers. Supporting yourself in this way, be satisfied and be still. Even if you get up and rush around[looking for food], will the rewards be different or better than what is ordained for you?

2. Heart of mine! Even if the whole land is full of sumptuous food, consisting of rich curry, seasoned with many condiments, milk,ghee, fruits and rice -- if your prarabdha does not permit you to eat them, either through illness or for other reasons, will it notspeedily annul all those enjoyments for you?

3. Heart of mine! The six delicious flavors exist only in the tip of the tongue. It extent is two finer breadths and no more. Whenyou were not able to cross slowly this two finger breadth, you will still go forth and cross the tumultuous ocean.

Note: 'When you are not able to cross slowly' means 'when you are not able to transcend or go beyond'. It is a common imagein Tamizh poetry that food is only attractive and appealing when it is in contact with this narrow zone on the tongue. Once it hasbeen swallowed, processed by the body, and ejected either as vomit or excrement, it no longer holds any attraction.

4. Heart of mine! Greatly desiring a well tuned out appearance, you suffer a great deal, running around to earn wealth for that purpose. Even if you get it, though, don't you realize the trouble that will arise from washermen, rats, the need to find a safeplace where they will not get stolen, and other such matters?

5. When cold weather comes there already exist ragged clothing, white ashes, mountain caves and many desolate temples [forshelter and warmth]. And in the sweltering heat of summer, even a loin cloth is a burden. This alone is the function of clothes.

Notes: Sadhus use wood ash to keep themselves warm in winter,

6. Heart of mine! Be yourself and remain still. By running about thinking about your food, and then being disappointed at not getting it, you have brought a lot of trouble upon yourself. People of the lowest kind will tire their legs for the sake of appeasingburning hunger. But will not those who are wise, remain settled in stillness?

7. Mind of mine! Instead of remaining satisfied with what you get, wherever you get it, thinking it sufficient, you get up, not giving yourself the time to blink, and run around. Realize that this is the seed of a poverty that can be eradicated. It is alsothe veiling [that will appear in or cause] the next birth.

8. A cow will seek out the apparent (lushness of the ) greenery on the opposing river bank, [preferring it] to the one that it is on,and do this repeatedly. My heart, in much the same way, your reward for this kind of activity is only running about, wanderingaround and getting distressed.

9. The hallmark of greatness is to stand firm where one is, and face up to whatever comes one's way, is it not? Wretched andfoolish heart, even if you go to the doors of those who are sweet like nectar, they will not extend their hospitality. Know that this is the nature of things. See if it is not.

10. Those who have understood the world have truly declared through their understanding, that for the wise the body is an affliction. Even if you renounce all of the possessions you own, and are associated with, having love for unreal body, my heart,is getting deluded again.

11. When we examine the conviction of the wise -- that what is, cannot be, and that what is, cannot fail to be --- what needis there for this agitation, my heart? All happens as it is ordained to happen. (The wise) recognize the things that are destined for them.

12. When in this life the embodied Jiva is perceived without error, then all will be as it has been ordained. This being so, myheart, why do you run every which way, traversing forests and oceans, suffering for the sake of your body? Tell me.

13. If you wish to know the means for remaining at peace, my heart, seek out the company of those great Self-realized ones who have tasted the sugarcane of Jnana, which engenders forbearance, and [remaining] at their feet, carry out their commandsin a single minded manner.

14. Even if you stand with your head on the ground and your feet in the air, nothing will happen that is not destined to happen.The best course, my heart, is to remain still, and be relaxed, viewing what comes to pass exactly as it is, without dashing about and tormenting yourself.

15. When there is good present in the virtuous, do not go to their presence and pay attention to the negative things [you see] there.My heart, do everything as per the commands of the Guru and eschew evil ways. The way of truth is not other than this. Henceforth keep to it!

16. Mind of mine! It is not good for you to be distressed, imagining praise, or abuse [towards yourself] in the words [of others].Realizing that these are just sounds coming from the windpipe through the medium of air, do not attach any great value [to them].

17. Those who lovingly praise the defective, unclean, fleshy body that generates filth through all its nine orifices, and whichis therefore malodorous, are actually looked upon as abusers by those who are on the path to realization. Those who revilethem [those on the path] are regarded as friends.

18. Heart of mine! You neither feel love nor hatred for the effects arising from insentient causes such as air, water, disease and many, many more. Therefore, regard the sentient causes also in the same way.

19. Do not exhibit friendship or animosity towards anyone. Taking the view that there is something to be learned from everysituation, stand firm, taking care not to act contrary to the words of virtuous people of mature understanding. This is the path for you.

20. Contenting yourself with what you have, be not disheartened even over great calamities. Do not indulge in malicious talkabout what is good, and what is evil. Furthermore, do not speak idle words. My heart, seeing the perfect behavior of the virtuous, conduct yourself without forgetting it.

21. Until the body, which is like an unreal dream or a mirage, comes to its end, adorn yourself with the holy feet of the Guru,holding on rightly with a melting heart. Without letting go, remain there singing his praises, my heart, in order that you maynever be born again.

22. Melting through dwelling over and over again on the nature of the Guru who subjected you to his rule, entreating him intensely more and more for true love, adorn yourself solely with his feet and be still, my heart, constantly sipping the rareambrosia of peace.

1. If this samsara does not end before giving up this body, we will again and again come, be born as a baby, suffer and die.See !

2. If you do not realize your true nature so that you can put an end to the evil of birth and death, this swinging on the goldenswing, going back and forth, will not cease, ever ! See!

3. If you do not extricate yourself from birth and death with full awareness by realizing your true nature, ignorance will catch hold of you in this world, and the next and torment you. See!

4. If you do not realize your true nature, as it really is, giving up the idea that your body is your [true] form, the powerful birthwill not end for you, even if [Lord Siva] appears before you with deer and battle axe. See!

5. If, in this birth, you do not realize the truth of yourself and thereby become free of all future births, you will die, repeatedlyassume a body and stand with baby anklets on your feet again and again. See!

6. If you do not subside and abide as the Self, knowing that consciousness is your form, thereby freeing yourself from allsuffering, Maya will plunder you, turn you into a body and make you dance as a leather marionette. See!

7. If you do not recognize your Self, without saying 'We will know it later', the devil of desire will unbalance you and trampleyou down. See!

8. Do not suffer extreme misery by placing your head under binding sankalpas. If you wear the feet of our Lord [the Guru],on your head, then you can abide [as the Self], saying, 'What does it matter where the sun rises!' See!

9. If without seeking the feet of the Guru, placing them on your head, and realizing your true nature, you take the body as'I', hosts of relatives will gather and place fire on your head [on the day of your cremation]. See!

10. Those who do not accept this definitive declaration of truth, will be like the beast and the devil. They will, alas, nevercross the ocean of birth. I swear to this, never!

When Manikkavachagar composed Tiruvachakam more than a thousand years ago, he used the motifs of children's gamesand women's pastimes to express the journey that the jiva must make towards union with Siva. Tattuvaraya adopted thisliterary form in many of the sections of Paduturai. However, in the four examples given here, the theme is not longing forunion with the divine but a celebration of the definitive final state, that is attained once the union has been consummated.

(Something similar to Acho Padigam of Tiruvachakam)

The 'Sivaprakasa' in the title is the Guru of Sorupananda. Kuravai is the name of a dance, performed in a circle. It is also a shrill celebratory shout exclaimed by women on auspicious or festival occasions:

1. Singing the nature of those feet that,though for beyond the Vedas' reach,came easily to wretched me,raise the cry called kuravai.

That all the world may know the greatness of the gracewith which the Supreme Lord made me his,raise the cry called kuravai.

Singing of how he bestowed his glance of grace,so that in a trice births which grasp and cling were rooted out,raise the cry called kuravai.

Saying, 'All thought has perished,learning has been destroyed.Jnana itself became my eye,'raise the cry called kuravai.

2. Singing of the richness through which,with a single matchless word,he revealed the whole (truth),raise the cry called kuravai.

Singing of how in an instant he wiped out the bonds of birthsthat endure for aeons of time,raise the cry called kuravai.

Singing the nature whereby a unique clarity,impossible to describesuffused my mind with sweetness and remained there,raise the cry called kuravai.

Singing of the perfect nature whereby he seeking came,thinking us poor wretches to be worthy,and bent us to his rule,raise the cry called kuravai.